Signal for crossings.



T. M.' I'LAHERTYH SIGNAL FOR OROSSING'S.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1909.

Fatwted May 9,1911.

gheny and State of THOMAS M. FLAllEEfi-TY, 01E EITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ere-star. son cncssrnss,

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, THoMAs M. FLAEERTY,

a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg,

in the countyof Alle- Pennsylvania, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Crossingabf which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to signals for cross ings, particularly the crossings of street car tracks at the intersection of two or more streetsI The primary object of In I invention to provide a simple and dura le signal which ca-Ir'be observed from either of the intersecting streets by wagonmcn, street car 1notormen and pedestrians, whereby the observer can determine the right of way, and thus eliminate all danger or" being run over or injured by street cars and vehicles.

Another object of this invention is to ob- :viate the necessity of policemen or similar watchmen standing in the driveway of intersecting streets, also the necessity of a policeman or watchman giving an audible signal.

A. still further object of this" lIlVEHtlOI). is to provide an electrical signal that can be easily operated by a policeman or watchman located upon the sidewalk of one of the intersecting streets, the signal being positive in its action andeasily observed by pedestrians or traveler's at the corners of 1ntersccting streets.

With the above and other objects in View which will more readily appear as the iiivention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and. arrangement of parts to be presently described and then claimed' 1 i In the drawings, l igure lis-a diagrammatic View of the intersecting streets or thoroughfares, illustrating two locations of my signal. F is an enlarged side clevation of the signal, Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of a portion of the signal, Fig. l a diagrammatic illustrating the electrical connection of the signal, Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the signal, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation of a solenoid forming part of the operating mechanism for the signal.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes intersecting streets or thoroughfares having sidewalks 2 and intersecting street car lines Specification 01 Letters latent. Application filed September as, 1909. Serial No.

vtion that the BEAM.

3. T0 carry out the objects of the inven tion I locate the signal at one of the corners of these intersecting streets,the signal being positioned upon the sidewalk adjacent to the curbing thereof.

The signal comprises a tubular post l having a base 5 suitably secured to the side walks at one of the corners of the intersecting streets 1. The upper end of the tubular post 4. is closed, asat (3, and provided with a depending bushing 7 for a vertical shaft 8. The shaft 8 is carried by a cap 9 adapted to loosely fit upon the upper end of the post, and having diametrically opposed signal arms 10 and 11. .In the accompanying illustration of the invention, the arm 10 is Patented May 9, 1913.

shown as representing the tail of an arrow and the arm ll'the head thereof.

12 designates a spider located within the post near the upper end thereof and revolubly' supporting the lower end of the shaft 8, said shaft adjacent to the spider having a horizontal ratchet wheel 13 fixed thereon.

v 14 designates solenoid supported by one of the arms of the spider 12, said solenoid having a spring held core 15 provided with a pivoted spring pressed pawl 16 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 13. This solenoid is connected by a wire 17 to batteries 18 supported upon a bracketlt) located within the post 4t, said bracket being at an elevation to be easily reached when the battcries are to be renewed or recharged. The

vsolenoid is also connected by a wire 20 to an electric switch or button 21, saidswitch or button being connected by a wire 22 to the batteries 18. Easy access is had to the batteries 18 through the medium of a doorway 2-3 formed in the post 4 adjacent to the bracket 15, said doorway being normally closed by a door 214:.

The switch or button 21 is preferably located above the doorway 23 and at an elevabutton or switch can be easily pressed or operated by a watchman or police-- man standing near the post 4. It is apparent that when the switch or button is operated the solenoid Ll energized, drawing the core 15 inwardly and turning the shaft 8 a quarter of a revolution, which positions the signal at the top of the post a to aline with either one of the streets, indicating that the crossing is clear and that wagons and pedestrians can safely cross. When the solenoid 14.- is deenergized, the core 15 assumes its normal position due to the spring forcing 'cedes over the ratchet wheelnnd obtains a fresh grip 'fer rotating the shaft 8 smother quarter revblution,

Althea h the signal arm. aslherein Shown is in the orrn ef an arrow, ii; is' @bV'iOllSiDhflt any desired farm or shape ofsignei arm in? arms may he exnloyed :Wlhhout deparisingn'om the sgm lt 0i ihe inventien of sh'ongz nd durable metal, and while in the drawings there is illustrated the preferred embodiments "of the inventien, 1 a ,would have it understood that the structural J elemente thereof can be varied or chan ed, as to thesize, preportion and manner b assenihlnge without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having now described my I claim. as new, is;---

1. A signal for crossings, comprising a tubular post, a cap revalub mounted upon the 11 per end (if said post; iametricaiiy 0p- Pese arms carried by said cap, and means invention, what I V past for revelvin said cap." The expesed parts 01 the signaij are made I of electncal eneigy said means including a ratchet wheel, a solenoidthe core of said solenoid having a I phwi engaging said ratchet wheel, and batteries 01" energizing said solenoid.

d cap revolubly mounted upon the, upper en Tied n37 spid hep, and meahn 'locatedin said n1 signal sup- 3., in a; signal I or cross s,

' hilly-mounted 0n petting post; a can revel "earried byfsaid cap, aws a carried by the "cap andde Wheel on e shzi I a soinoid within the post, the core of said solenoid having a pawl engagin said ratchet wheel, and, a source gizing the solenoid.

in the'pi'esence 0f two witnesses.

v THOMAS M. FLAHERTY. Witnesses: 4

MAX H. Snomvrrz;

located in said posh n revolvmg'said cap, I

' I'LmL H. BUTLE I 2, I vsi al for crossings, a tublilar ii in :30

the uppeijend of said. est, a signal arm ending t inte t e post, a ratchet withinthe post 1301' ener-.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature of said pnshdimnetricallypphosed arms car- 

